COLOMBO – Garment manufacturers in Sri Lanka say the potential loss of the country's European Union generalised scheme of preferences plus (GSP+) trade privileges over human rights issues would be catastrophic for the industry.
The EU is threatening to suspend Sri Lanka's GSP+ status and benefits over the country's "persistent failure" to adopt and enact human rights reforms, and repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
Arumugampillai Sukumaran, chairman of the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) in Sri Lanka, points out that garments account for more than 50 per cent of the country's exports and that the EU is its second biggest market.
